Toothbrush



Jan. 18, 1966 a G 5, CLEMENS 3,229,318

TOOTHBRUSH Filed May 15 19 1 I HM, 12

Inventor George mens Jan. 18, 1966 5, CLEMENS 3,229,318

TOOTHBRUSH Filed May 15, 1964 14 32 a; l6 I 3 5; I]

nt) George S. Cl

sg/ten le. m 9K Orflew United States Patent 3,229,318 TGOTHBRUSH eorge S. (Siemens, Northfield, Eli, assignor to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, Iii, a corporation of Illinois Filed May 15, 1964, $91. No. 367,787 8 t'llaims. (Ci. -167) The present invention relates to a toothbrush and more particularly it relates to an improved toothbrush construction having a relatively large effective brushing range for eflicient full range cleansing of the teeth and gum areas, including depressions, recesses and the interproximal areas without injury to sensitive gingivae areas.

The tooth surfaces and adjacent areas which are cleansed by brushing to remove foreign particles and thereby reduce the rate of deterioration of the tooth bodies generally are irregular and not smooth or disposed in a planar surface. The interproximal areas, for example, drop sharply away from the base plane of the broad tooth surfaces. Further, the tooth bodies themselves have depressions therein such as exist in the premolar and molar teeth. These depressions may range from one-sixteenth to one-eighth inch in depth. The characteristic depressions and recesses that must be cleansed usually are relatively narrow and to that extent provide only limited access for penetration of bristles for cleansing.

A brush with bristle ends disposed in a broad flat surface will generally not be satisfactory for complete cleansing because adjacent bristles will Wedge and will be unable to enter the small depressions or recesses of the teeth. Tuft configurations of this type usually are efficient only in brushing planar surfaces where many bristle ends may act upon the area without restriction. Some toothbrush manufacturers attempt to avoid the shortcomings of fiat brushes by shaping the bristle ends into a wedge shape, an inclined face, or the like. The gradually tapering'configuration does not avoid the wedging difiiculty in that adjacent bristles still are sufficiently close in overall length to give rise to Wedging difliculties and thereby totally efficient cleansing to the recesses, depressions, and the like, of the teeth is not possible.

The construction of the brush of the present invention is provided not only to overcome the wedging difficulties inherent in many brush constructions but also to provide for full range cleansing action and to permit bristle pene tration into the deepest recesses, depressions, and interproxirnal recesses that must be brushed to assure removal of foreign particles and to generally cleanse the tooth areas.

In accord with the teachings herein set forth I 7 provide an improved toothbrush construction wherein the bristle ends are disposed in a plurality of distinct levels without tapering and wherein manufacture of the brush is not afiected by the provision of said configuration. The brush head of the toothbrush of the present invention is of a generally serrated configuration and defines a series of projections and recesses in which the bristles are mounted in tuft form. Each of the tufts includes long and short bristles and when mounted on the irregular brush head the bristle ends are disposed in at least three and preferably four major identifiable levels extending from the longest bristle of the projection mounted tufts to the shortest bristle of the recess mounted tufts. The full range between the outermost bristle end and the innermost bristle end preferably is slightly greater than the generally encountered deeper depressions and recesses of the tooth areas to be cleansed.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toothbrush construction.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved toothbrush having effective full range cleansing action.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved toothbrush having full range tooth area cleansing action and wherein the outermost bristle of the tufts mounted in the brush head and the innermost bristle of said tufts in the brush head are in axially spaced-apart relation a distance greater than the generally encountered deeper depressions and recesses of the tooth areas to be cleansed.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved toothbrush having a plurality of brushing levels while employing uniform tuft configuration.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved toothbrush construction having a serrated brush head configuration adapted to receive bristles in tuft form thereon to provide bristle ends on the toothbrush that are disposed at different tooth area cleansing levels.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved toothbrush construction that has a plurality of different brushing levels and that will provide effective tooth cleansing with normal cleansing use and that will provide non-Wedging bristle penetration into the tooth recesses, depressions and the interproximal areas.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved toothbrush that is economical to manufacture, that is easy to use, and that provides effective full range cleansing of the tooth areas.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially sectioned view of the brush head of the present invention showing a portion of the brush with the four level bristle configuration;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the brush head of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a modified form of the brush of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a section view of the brush head of FIG- URE 3 taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of another modification of the toothbrush of the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a section View of the modification of FIGURE 5 taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Referring more particularly now to the drawing the toothbrush of the present invention is indicated generally at 143. The toothbrush includes a brush handle 12 and a brush head 14. The brush head 14 includes a serrated tuft receiving face 16 defined by step-like projections 18 and recesses 20 therebetween. The projections are in spaced-apart relation and separated by recesses 20 and extend laterally of the brush head generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the brush Ill. Each of the projections L3 and recesses 20 is provided with a series of spaced tuft receiving openings 22. The outer faces of the projections 18 are spaced from the outer faces of the recesses 20 by a distance of approximately ,5 inch, preferably slightly greater than Tufts 24- are mounted one within each of the tuft receiving openings 22 of the tuft receiving face 16, each of said tufts including a plurality of long and short bristles. The longer bristles of each of the tufts in one embodiment of the present invention are approximately inch in length from the free end thereof to the face of the projection or recess Within which the tuft is mounted. The shorter bristles of each of the tufts are approximately 3 inch in length from the free end to the face of the brush head.

As seen from the representation of FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the bristle ends of the tufts 24 may align themselves into four distinct levels. The separation between levels of the projection mounted and recess mounted tufts is dependent, in part, upon the difference between 'the mounting levels defined by said recesses and projections and more specifically by the height of the projections from the base plane X of the brush head. In the present illustration the face 18 of the projections extends preferably in excess of inch beyond the base plane X of the brush it). The tuft receiving openings 22 are drilled in the brush head 14 to approximately similar depths whether the opening be in a recess or in a projection. The tufts to be mounted within the brush head 24 are of substantially uniform character and each include long and short bristles as defined hereinabove. The tufts 24 are mounted in the openings 22 of the brush head 14 by folding them over a pin or brad, or similar member, and then inserting the brad or pin into the opening 22. It should be observed that the pin for mounting of the tufts 24 is slightly longer than the overall diameter of the openings so that it must be forced into the openings 22 of the plastic brush head 14. Once the pin is in the opening it is trapped and is not removable by normal use or any action except a deliberate attempt to cause the pin to be removedfrom said opening.

The bristle ends, with a step height of the projection in excess of inch, will define four distinct layers, A, B, C, and D, as noted above. The layer A, in this configuration, will be nearest the base plane X and will be defined by the bristle ends of the shortest bristles of the recess mounted tufts. The layer B will be defined by the bristle ends of the longer bristles of the recess mounted tufts. Layers C and D will'be defined by the ends of the shorter and longer bristles, respectively, of the projection mounted tufts. Of course, if the projection height above the base plane X is at inch andthe differential length of the shorter and longer bristles is about inch then there will be three distinct layers with layers B and C of the'illustration of FIGURE 1 merging into a single distinct group.

As seen in FIGURE 2, four tufts each. are mounted in the recesses and the projections of the brush head 14 in laterally and axially aligned relation thereon. In this manner the longer bristles of the projection mounted tufts are available for penetration into the deeper crevices and depressions and the interproximal areas of the teeth rnotility to the longer bristles of said tufts during use to assure good sweeping action for effective cleansing of the interproximal areas and deeper crevices and depressions.

The longer bristles of the recess mounted tufts extend into the shallower depressions and crevices to cleanse the same. In view of the fact that these tufts are mounted in alternate rows there will be little interference from the bristles of the projection mounted tufts and to a limited extent the alternate rows of tufts act independently for cleansing action. Again, the shorter bristles of the recess mounted tufts of the brush head act upon the longer bristles to provide motility thereto and prevent locking up of the longer bristles while at the same time providing a surface for rapid sweeping action in cleansing of the broad tooth surfaces Where access to depressions r crevices is not required.

Thus, it is seen that a brush constructed as noted above will provide effective full range cleansing action for cleaning of the deeper depressions and crevices of the teeth and the interproximal areas between teeth while at the same time providing convenient means for access to shallow depressions and means for effective cleaning of the broad tooth areas where" generally the user is not concerned with penetration into crevices, or the like. A minimum distance of about /8 inch is provided between the bristle end nearest the brush head and the bristle end farthest from the brush head. In normal usage the deepest crevices and depressions and the recesses of the intcrproximal areas extend inwardly from the plane of the broad tooth surfaces about inch. Variations from this general characteristic will, of course, occur.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4 of the drawings. As seen more clearly in FIGURE 3, the brush head is provided with alternate rows of tufts with four tufts being provided in laterally aligned relation in each of the recessed areas 26 of the brush head and three tufts 24 (each similar part of the brush of FIGURES 3 and 4 being identified with the same reference number as the corresponding part of the brush of FIGURES 1 and 2, except with a prime added) being provided in laterally aligned relation in each of the projections 18' of the brush head 14. In this form of the invention the outermost bristles of the projection mounted tufts are less in number and are freer to move about in cleansing action. lso, there is less tendency for the fewer bristles to become trapped by the gingival surfaces. It should be noted that with less bristles in numbers laterally of the brush head in each of the projection defined rows of tufts the bristles will be more likely to move fully into the inter proximal areas for cleaning and will not be caused to hang up on the gingival surfaces and thereby be prevented from entering the interproxirnal areas. When pressures are exerted on the brush head the bristle tips of the bristles resting on the gum surfaces tend to depress the soft gum surface to define pockets in which the bristles then become trapped. The tendency toward hang-up may be decreased by the use of a reduced lateral Width in the projection mounted rows of tufts thereby reducing the total number of bristle tips that may impinge on the gingival surfaces to cause pockets. It can readily be seen that with the full tuft rows across the brush head the tufts may bridge the intenproximal areas. The end tufts of each row will imbed themselves in gingival pockets of their own making and'thus more pressure will be required to introduce the bristles of the more centrally located tufts of each row to the interproximal area for effective cleansing. Another advantage of the present structure in decreasing. the tendency toward gingival hang-up resides in the more favorable angle of approach of the bristle. tips with respect to the inwardly curving gingival surface between adjacent tooth structures. The primary cause of hang-up in most structures is due to the fact that the bristles in the end tufts of broad rows of tufts rest upon the flatter portions of the gingival surface Where they are easily pressed into the gum to define the pockets, as noted hereinabove. With the present structure the narrower width of the rows of projection mounted tufts provides means whereby the bristle ends contact the sharply inwardly curving portions of the gums as they descend toward the interproximal areas whereby the angle defined between the gum surfaces and the bristles is such that the bristle end is more likely to slide along said gum surface--the resultant forces due to brushing pressure tending to move the bristles. downwardly into the interproximal crevices rather than directly into the gums.

Still another modification of the brush construction of the present invention is set forth in the illustration of FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings. As seen in FIG- URE' 5, the basic brush head configuration 14" (again,

similar parts being similarly numbered, but with a double prime added) includes a series of stepped portions 18" and recesses 28" extending along said head. Each recessed area 20" is provided with four tufts 24" anchored therein in much the same configuration and arrangement as that noted in the forms of FIGURES l to 4, inclusive. The tufts 3!) mounted in the stepped portions of projections 18" are mounted at an angle with respect to the base and form an acute included angle with the base of the projections 18".

Each of the tufts in the recessed portions of the brush head include long and short bristles with the bristle tips being disposed substantially in two envelopes. The longer bristles of each recess mounted tuft extend beyond the terminals of the shorter bristles approximately inch, as in the configurations noted hereinabove. The projections 18 of the brush head extends approximately 1 inch above the base of the recessed portions 20" of said brush head. The angle mounted tufts extend toward each other but, preferably, terminate inwardly of the brush head in spaced relation to each other. The angle mounted tufts 3B are of the same general type as the vertically mounted tufts 24" except, of course, that they are mounted in angularly drilled openings in the brush head. The angularly mounted tufts 3d are provided with long and short bristles, said longer bristles in each tuft extending about ,5 inch beyond the tips of the short bristles therein. The angle mounted tufts of the modification of FIGURES 5 and 6 are desirable in that they automatically provide another cleansing angle during use of the brush. ,The angularly mounted being two in number in each projection 18' offer less bristles to the crevices and depressions of the teeth and to that extent are more likely to penetrate the crevices and depressions to the full extent permissible within the diameter range of the bristles. It should be noted that the areas between teeth, for example involve infinitesimal areas and will block penetration of all but extremely small diameter bristles. However, such small bristle diameters would be completely inefiective unless they were made quite rigid in which case they would be dangerous due to the ability of such rigid small diameters to puncture the tender gingival areas and thereby cause injury. Accordingly, the bristle diameter, preferably, is kept above the smallest diameter bristle with attendant supplementary action for effective removal of foreign particles from the teeth. The bristles mounted at an angle to the tuft mounting face of the brush head (on the projections of the brush head) provide an additional desirable advantage in that they will tend to slide along the gingival areas during brushing and will enter the interproximal areas to cleanse them rather than being captured in pockets in the gingival areasas defined hereinabove in conjunction with the discussion of the modification of FIG- URES 3 and 4. It can readily be seen that the tips of the angle mounted bristles are disposed also at an angle to the gingivae during brushing. Thus, during use, and when brushing pressure is applied to the brush head to urge the bristles into the interproximal areas, the tips of the angle mounted bristles will slide along the gingival area and into the interproximal area rather than forming a pocket in the gum and then becoming trapped therein without having entered the interproximal areas for cleansing therein.

If a vertical brushing stroke is used during cleansing of the teeth the angle mounted tufts will be acting in lever fashion to remove foreign particles from the interproximal areas and other tooth areas. A further advantage of the angle mounted tufts resides in the fact that while fewer bristles are presented to the teeth during use of the brush a relatively large area of coverage still is achieved with attendant bristle interaction between the bristles of the angle mounted tufts and between the angle mounted and adjacent vertically mounted tufts of the brush head. This, of course, is due to the fact 6 that the plane of the tuft ends of the angle mounted tufts, when flexed in use, is larger than the plane of the tuft end of the vertically mounted tuft.

It should be noted that the tuft configuration in each of the above-noted modifications is basically the same. That is, the tufts all are approximately one-sixteenth inch in diameter and include about 30 to 50 bristles each. In one configuration, the longer bristles of the tuft comprise approximately one-half of the total number of bristles in the tuft. Full range cleaning is provided in that the longer bristles of the projection mounted tufts extend about /8 inch beyond the short bristles of the recess mounted tufts. The outermost or longest bristles are fewest in number and thus will be most likely to enter the interproxirnal areas, tooth depressions and crevices in non-wedging fashion. The bristle density progressively increases toward the brush head so that massive brushing action for cleansing of the broad crown areas of the teeth is available with the innermost envelope of bristle tips where entry into crevices and depressions is not required, while at the same time providing a few bristles of relatively small diameter and of optimum flexibility for entry into said tooth crevices and depressions.

Another major advantage of the brush of the present invention, of course, resides in the fact that the full range cleaning action is provided with tufts which all are of the same configuration. That is, the longer bristles of each tuft in one brush configuration, extend approximately inch from the base in which they are mounted while the shorter bristles of each tuft extend approximately inch from the base in which they are mounted. Manufacture and assembly of a brush of this type with full range cleansing action thus is achieved very economically and with no modification of equipment other than may be involved in vertical orientation of the tuft loading head or the brush head during insertion of the tufts into the brush head.

The alternating high and low orientation of the bristle ends is of particular value in cleansing teeth in that they are in spaced relation to be received in the spaced interproximal areas while at the same time brushing the crowned tooth areas. The spaced bristle rows of varying height thus provide effective full range cleaning action for each brush position in use for cleansing the characteristic configuration of the teeth.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention is shown and described it will of course, be understood that other modifications and alternative constructions may be used Without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention. It is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fall within their true spirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An improved toothbrush for cleansing the teeth and areas adjacent thereto including depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproximal areas, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body including a brush handle and a brush head, said brush head defining a tuft receiving face including a plurality of projecting portions separated by recesses, said projections being in spaced-apart relation and alternating with said recesses along said brush head, the base of said recesses defining a base plane; and, a plurality of tufts secured in said brush head and received in the projections and recesses of the tuft receiving face and extending outwardly from said tuft receiving face, each said tuft including a plurality of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles in each tuft being in respective axially spaced-apart relation, the bristle ends of the entire brush configuration being arranged such that the ends of the bristles of the tufts mounted in the projections and recesses of the brush head are disposed in four identifiable levels, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles of the projection mounted tufts being most remote in two level configuration with the bristle ends of the recess mounted tufts being nearest the base plane in two level configuration, said four level configuration providing effective full range cleansing action of the teeth and related areas with normal brushing action from the broad flat tooth surfaces into the deeper recesses of the interproximal areas.

v2. An improved toothbrush for cleaning the teeth and areas adjacent thereto including depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproximal areas, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body having a brush handle and a brush head, said brush head having a tuft receiving face defining a base plane with projections ,at spaced intervals therealong extending from said'base plane; and, tufts'secured in openings in said brush head each said tuft including a plurality of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles in each tuft being axially spaced apart, the bristle ends of the entire brush configuration being arranged such that the ends of the bristles of the tufts mounted in the projections and in the base plane portion of the brush head are disposed in four levels, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles of the projection mounted tufts being most remote in two level configuration, with the bristle ends of the base plane mounted tufts being nearest the base plane in two level configuration, each of said tufts being of substantially uniform overall configuration whereby full range cleansing action of the teeth and surrounding areas is provided without modification of tuft mounting techniques in brush manufacture.

3. An improved toothbrush for cleaning the teeth and areas adjacent thereto including depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproximal area-s, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body having a handle and a brush head, said brush head having a tuft receiving face including a plurality of step-like projections separated by recesses, said projections being in spaced-apart relation and alternating with said recesses along said brush head, the base of said recesses defining a base plane, and each of said projections extending outwardly of the base plane a distance exceeding inch; and, a plurality of tufts secured in said brush head and extending outwardly from said tuft receiving face, each said tuft including a plurality of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles in each tuft being spaced in axial direction approximately A inch, the

bristle ends of the entire brush configuration being an ranged such that the ends of the bristles of the tufts mounted in the projections and recesses of thebrush head are disposed in at least three levels, said tuft configuration providing effective full range cleaning action of the teeth and related areas from the broad fiat tooth surfaces into ,the deeper recesses of the interproximal areas with normal spaced-apart relation more than /s inch from the outermost bristle-end to the bristle-end nearest the base plane.

4. An improved toothbrush for cleansing the teeth and areas adjacent thereto including depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproximal areas, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body having a brush handle and a brush head, said brush head having a tuft receiving face, including a plurality of step-like projections separated by recesses, said projections being in spacedaapart relation and alternating with said recesses along said brush head, the base of said recesses defining a base plane; and, a plurality of tufts secured in said br-ush head and extending outwardly from said tuft receiving face, the tuft arrangement including four tufts mounted inlaterally aligned rows in each recess and three tufts mounted in laterally aligned rows in each projection,

all of said tufts being of generally uniform configuration,

each said tuft including a plurality of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles in each tuft being in respective axially spaced-apart relation, the bristle ends of the entire brush configuration being arranged such that the ends of the bristles of the tufts mounted in the projections and recesses of the brush head are disposed in at least three distinct levels, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles of the projection mounted tufts bein most remote in two level configuration with the bristle ends of the recess mounted tufts being nearest the base plane in two level configuration, said four level configuration providing effective full range cleansing action of the teeth and related areas with normal-brushing action from the broad flat tooth surfaces into the deeper recesses of the interproximalareas.

5. An improved toothbrushfor cleaning the teeth and areas adjacent thereto including depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproximal areas, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body having a handle and a brush head, said brush head having a tuft receiving face including a plurality of step-like projections separated by recesses, said projections being in spaced-apart relation and alternating with said recesses along said brush head, the base of said recesses defining a base plane, and each of said projections extending outwardly of the base plane at least inch; and, a plurality of tufts secured in said brush head and extending outwardly from said tuft receiving face, the tuft arrangement including the tufts mounted in laterally aligned rows in said recesses and two tufts mounted in said projections the tufts in said projections defining an acute included angle between the base plane and longitudinal axis of said tuft, said projection mounted tufts being inclined toward each other, each said tuft including a plurality ,of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles of the recess mounted tufts being spaced in axial direction approximately inch, the bristle ends of the angle mounted tufts being trimmed generally parallel with the base plane with the longer and shorter bristle ends being spaced apart about inch in direction normal to the base plane, the bristle ends of the entire brush configuration being arranged such that the ends of the bristles of the tufts mounted in the projections and recesses of the brush head are disposed in at least three levels, said tuft configurationproviding effective full range cleaning action of the teeth and related areas from the broad flat tooth surfaces into the deeper recesses of themterproximal areas with normal brushing action, said bristle ends extending in axial spaced-apart relation more than inchfrom the outermost bristle-endto the bristleend nearest the base plane.

6. An improved toothbrush for cleaning the teeth and areas adjacent thereto including depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproximal areas, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body having a brush handle and a brush head, said brush head having a tuft receiving face defining alternating recessed areas and projections, said recesses and projections having tuft receiving openings; and, tufts secured in openings in the brush head each said tuft including a plurality of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles in each tuft being axially spaced apart, the bristle ends :of the entire brush configuration being arranged such that the ends of the bristles of the tufts mounted in the projections and in the recessed areas of the brush head are disposed in four distinct levels, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles of the projection mounted tufts being most remote in two level configuration, with the bristle ends of the recess mounted tufts being inboard the projection mounted tufts in two level configuration, each of said tufts being of substantially uniformoverall configuration, the longer bristles of each tuft being approximately TA inch in length with the shorter bristles being approximately inch in length, whereby full range cleansing action of the teeth and surrounding areas is provided without modification of tuft mounting techniques in brush manufacture.

7. An improved toothbrush for cleansing the teeth and areas adjacent theretoinc-luding depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproximal areas, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body including a brush handle and a brush head, said brush head defining a tuft receiving face including a plurality of projecting portions separated by recesses, said projections being in spaced-apart relation and alternating with said recesses along said brush head, the base of said recesses defining a base plane; and, a plurality of tufts secured in said brush head and received in the projections and recesses of the tuft receiving face and extending outwardly from said tuft receiving face, each said tuft including a plurality of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles in each tuft being in respective axially spaced-apart relation, the bristle ends of the entire brush configuration being arranged such that the ends of the bristles of the tufts mounted in the projections and recesses of the brush head are disposed in four identifiable levels, said four level configuration providing efiective full range cleansing action from the broad flat tooth surfaces into the deeper recesses of the interproximal areas.

8. An improved toothbrush for cleaning the teeth and areas adjacent thereto including depressions in the surface of the teeth, recesses and the interproxima l areas, said toothbrush comprising: a toothbrush body having a handle and a brush head, said brush head having a tuft receiving face including a plurality of step-like projections separated by recesses, said projections being in spacedapart relation and alternating with said recesses along said brush head, the base of said recesses defining a base plane, and each of said projections extending a predetermined distance outwardly of the base plane; and a pinrality of tufts secured in said brush head and extending outwardly from the tuft receiving face, each said tuft including a plurality of short and long bristles, the bristle ends of the long and short bristles in each tuft being spaced in axial direction a distance greater than the predetermined distance of spacing of the projections outwardly of said base plane, the bristle ends of the entire brushconfiguration thereby being disposed such that the bristle ends of the projection and recess mounted tufts lie inifour generally defined levels with the tips of the longer bristles of the projection mounted tufts defining the outermost layer, the tips of the longer bristles of the recess mounted tufts defining the next outermost layer, the tips of the shorter bristles of the projection mounted tufts defining the next inward layer and the tips of the shorter bristles of the recess mounted tufts defining the innermost layer, thereby providing full range cleaning action of the teeth and related areas from the broad flat tooth surfaces into the deeper recesses of the interproxirnal areas with normai brushing action.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,382,681

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

7. AN IMPROVED TOOTHBRUSH FOR CLEANSING THE TEETH AND AREAS ADJACENT THERETO INCLUDING DEPRESSIONS IN THE SURFACE OF THE TEETH, RECESSES AND THE INTERPROXIMAL AREAS, SAID TOOTHBRUSH COMPRISING: A TOOTHBRUSH BODY INCLUDING A BRUSH HANDLE AND A BRUSH HEAD, SAID BRUSH HEAD DEFINING A TUFT RECEIVING FACE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PROJECTING PORTIONS SEPARATED BY RECESSES, SAID PROJECTIONS BEING IN SPACED-APART RELATION AND ALTERNATING WITH SAID RECESSES ALONG SAID BRUSH HEAD, THE BASE OF SAID RECESSES DEFINING A BASE PLANE; AND, A PLURALITY OF TUTSE SECURED IN SAID BRUSH HEAD AND RECEIVED IN THE PROJECTIONS AND RECESSES OF THE TUFT RECEIVING FACE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID TUFT RECEIVING FACE, EACH SAID TUFT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SHORT AND LONG BRISTLES, THE BRISTLE ENDS OF THE LONG AND SHORT BRISTLES IN EACH TUFT BEING IN RESPECTIVE AXIALLY SPACED-APART RELATION, THE BRISTLE ENDS OF THE ENTIRE BRUSH CONFIGURATION BEING ARRANGED SUCH THAT THE ENDS OF THE BRISTLES OF THE TUFTS MOUNTED IN THE PROJECTIONS AND RECESSES OF THE BRUSH HEAD ARE DISPOSED IN FOUR IDENTIFIABLE LEVELS, SAID FOUR LEVEL CONFIGURATION PROVIDING EFFECTIVE FULL RANGE CLEANSING ACTION FROM THE BROAD FLAT TOOTH SURFACES INTO THE DEEPER RECESSES OF THE UNTERPROXIMAL AREAS. 